AmphiStar, a Belgian biotech company specializing in sustainable surfactant products, has been awarded a €2 million non-dilutive grant from SPRIN-D, the German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation. This latest funding boosts AmphiStar’s total financial backing this year to €10 million. The grant is part of a multi-stage funding program designed to support innovative biotechnology projects, and it will help further develop AmphiStar’s biotechnology platform, which focuses on creating custom-designed biosurfactant molecules for the personal care and home care markets.
After a competitive selection process, AmphiStar was one of just six teams chosen to advance to the second round of the SPRIN-D program. The company previously received €1.5 million in the program’s initial phase and is now competing for an additional €2 million in the final round of funding, which will be awarded next year to two standout teams.
Pierre-Franck Valentin, CEO of AmphiStar, explained the significance of the funding: “This grant enables us to continue advancing our work on sustainable surfactants, which are in increasing demand for eco-friendly products in personal and home care. The non-dilutive nature of the funding allows us to focus fully on refining our technology to create high-performance, environmentally responsible solutions.”
AmphiStar’s biotechnology platform uses synthetic biology to create biosurfactants tailored to meet specific performance needs. These biosurfactants are produced using organic waste and by-products, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional chemically produced surfactants. Unlike mainstream surfactants, which are typically derived from fossil fuels or other biobased sources, AmphiStar’s approach is both innovative and environmentally friendly.
Sophie Roelants, Co-founder and COO of AmphiStar, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability: “What sets our technology apart is the ability to produce novel, high-performing molecules with sustainability at the forefront. This grant will allow us to focus on developing new molecules using waste materials in a continuous biomanufacturing process. Our aim is to make these sustainable solutions cost-effective while maintaining their performance.”
During the first phase of the SPRIN-D program, AmphiStar demonstrated a continuous biomanufacturing process that lasted for 75 days—15 days longer than initially anticipated. The process used only waste materials to create a promising new biosurfactant molecule. This success was recognized by an international jury assembled by SPRIN-D.
AmphiStar’s advancements in continuous biomanufacturing are crucial for reducing the production costs of new, sustainable biochemicals, making them competitive in markets where both functionality and cost are important factors.
The €2 million grant from SPRIN-D marks a significant milestone for AmphiStar as it continues to lead in the biosurfactant and biomanufacturing sector. The funding will help the company move closer to its goal of bringing tailored, sustainable products to global markets. With further developments expected in the coming year, AmphiStar is well-positioned to make a lasting impact in personal care, home care, and related industries.
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